Word for the Travel Wise (11/21/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Over the last few weeks we’ve blogged quite a bit about traveling for Iran and for various reasons. If you’re wanting to check out the so-called dangerous nuclear sites that could very well land on your travel itinerary or if you’re an agent looking for some extra pocket cash – try generating a buzz for travel to Iran. I have no real special reasons for wanting to visit Iran other than it’s incredibly cool and packed with tons of ancient history to be explored. One of these the timing will be perfect and you will receive postcards from Persia. I’m hoping that time comes sooner than later.

Today’s word is a Farsi (Persian) word used in Iran:

safar kardan – to travel

Excellent sites for learning Persian online include a personal favorite called Easy Persian and Farhangsara. Both sites have an excellent beginner’s guide into the language and use images, sound and music to assist you in the process. Check out Lonely Planet’s Farsi (Persian) Phrasebook for a shorthand guide at the ancient lingo.

Past Farsi words: be salamati, toot farangee, kheyli golabi, tazeh, dovidan, khastam

Word for the Travel Wise (11/20/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Ladies shouldn’t experience too much confusion when hearing this word in Papua New Guinea. I’d have to find out if it applies to all women or strictly European women, but I’m willing to guess most women might hear this one at some point or another during their stay.

Today’s word is a Pidgin (Tok Pisin) word used in Papua New Guinea:

misis – European woman

As noted in Wikipedia the word ‘tok’ means word or speech and the word ‘pisin’ means pidgin and is a Creole language spoken by about 4 million people as a second language and over a hundred thousand as a first. It is spoken in the northern mainland of Papua New Guinea. If you scroll down further you’ll find a nice list of words and some pronunciation examples. As an added bonus you can learn even more words by venturing into the online Tok Pisin phrasebook, also provided by Wiki. They’ve actually got a great handful of links which I suggest going through them all if you’re really into learning this lang. One last site I’ll note here though is Robert Eklund’s Tok Pisin page. It had pictures of signs, people and some audio clips. Looks a winner to learning the very basics.

Past Pidgin (Tok Pisin) words: natnat, kaikai

Word for the Travel Wise (11/19/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Hmm… I’m not sure how you can squeeze this word into some conversation, but if the opportunity should present itself, use it! Use it over and over again, until they go from impressed to annoyed. That way no one can say you never made an effort to speak the local lang!

Today’s word is a Danish word used in Denmark:

tillykke – congratulations

Danish is part of the North Germanic language family, also known as a Scandinavian language. Speak Danish dot com has a ten day intensive online course that provides you with lesson one for free and the rest at a charge of $75 USD. Learn Danish is a good source for all the facts regarding the language, but points us back to the Speak Danish which gets a bit dizzy if you’re looking for an alternative site to visit. For learning abroad in classroom settings click here.

Past Danish words: svimmel

Word for the Travel Wise (11/18/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

When asking for directions around the Serbian capital city of Belgrade, let people know you understand them by using this word…

Today’s word is a Serbian word used in Serbia:

razumem – I understand

Head to the BBC for a crash course or quick fix on basic Serbian words and phrases. For the most part Serbian is spoken by Serbs everywhere and is apart of the Stokavian dialect (former standard of the Serbo-Croatian language). Serbian School online is completely free and a great place to start for those interested in learning. While their services are free they do ask for PayPal donations which I suggest giving whatever you can if you planning on using their guides. Bookmark the site and check back daily for their word of the day or refresh to learn a few in one day. Join the Serbia Language and Culture Workshop during summer for intensive sessions with other like-minded foreigners. As usual Lonely Planet has the nifty pocket-sized phrasebooks to help you along the way in Eastern Europe. This particular guide has small sections devoted to a number of languages in the region.

Past Serbian words:

Word for the Travel Wise (11/17/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

A good friend of mine is heading to Africa soon and while I sit wishing I too could journey to the land, I know he will bring back enough good stories to keep entertained for a minute. If I’m not mistaken, one of the countries in which he will visit is Tanzania. Lucky, dog… This word goes out to you and all your pals making the long trip over with you.

Today’s word is a Swahili word used in Tanzania:

nzuri – good

Masai-Mara has a section devoted to useful Swahili and Kenya Travels has a similar list, but to catch the missing words between the two I suggest looking at them both. The Kamusi Project is the internet’s only living Swahili dictionary which has been suspended due to funding issues. Sad, seeing it seems like one of the best sources to learning the lang, but the if you’re willing to donate a few dollars you can help keep the website alive. To learn basic background facts about Swahili check out Wikipedia. Did you know the name Swahili comes from the plural of Arabic word sahel (singular) or its plural sawahil meaning “boundary” or “coast?” Just one cool fact I discovered during the first lesson I taught.

Past Swahili words: unasemaje, simu , asubuhi, zaidi